VR Tech Times

Temperatures during India’s summer season often exceed 45deg C. Sweltering levels of heat like such can take a toll on your car and give rise to trouble. Listed below are some crucial preventative measures you can take to prep your car for the Indian summer. Air conditioning Due diligence As your most vital line of defence against the heat, your car’s AC system must be checked and serviced (if needed) before summer fully kicks in. Check the refrigerant level, compressor belt, and vent quality. If cabin cooling is weak, low refrigerant or a clogged cabin filter is likely. Replace the cabin air filter on an annual basis to keep airflow strong and the evaporator clean. Run the AC for at least 5-10 minutes every two weeks to circulate oil through the compressor and avoid seal leaks. If the AC gas is low, a refill and leak check will be required, and you can even consider a professional AC servicing every two years or 30,000 km, whichever comes first. Battery care Heat adversely affects ba...

The Avenger lineup has seen multiple changes over the years, making it a bit hard to keep up with. Now, Bajaj Auto has quietly removed the Avenger 160 Street from its website and added the Avenger 220 Street, effectively signaling the end of the 160 platform in the Avenger range. Avenger 160 Street discontinued Avenger 220 Street returns after being discontinued in 2020 Will be based on the same platform as the 220 Cruise Bajaj Avenger 220 Street details The 220 Street and 220 Cruise are the only two Avenger models currently listed on the Bajaj website The Avenger 220 Street will use the same engine as the Bajaj Avenger 220 Cruise. The 220cc, oil-cooled, single-cylinder engine produces 19hp at 8,500rpm and 17.6Nm of torque at 7,000rpm, paired with a 5-speed gearbox. In comparison, the now-discontinued Avenger 160 Street used a 160.4cc single-cylinder motor producing 15hp and 13.7Nm. Bajaj has updated its website to include the Avenger 220 Street, but pricing is yet to be announced. Be...

The Indian electric 2-wheeler industry, which registered record retail sales of 1.40 million units in FY2026, has opened FY2027 on a strong note. April 2026 saw a total of 1,48,677 units delivered to e-2W buyers, up 61 percent YoY as opposed to April 2025’s 92,536 units and in line with the strong growth displayed since the start of CY2026. April sales are the second highest monthly numbers in the current year to date, after March 2026. TVS currently holds 25 percent of the EV sales pie Top 10 E-2 wheeler manufacturers account for 94 percent of total sales Ola Electric records best monthly performance in the past six months despite a YoY decline. E-2 Wheeler April sales: TVS Motor Co : 37,661 units Market leader TVS Motor Co sold 37,661 units in April 2026. This is a handsome 96 percent YoY increase (April 2025: 19,176 units) and gives the company a monthly market share of 25 percent at the start of FY2027. TVS’ April sales are its second-highest monthly numbers, and come just one mo...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/Ue3OusR

After a couple of months with our long-term Porsche Taycan Turbo , I’ve said goodbye to it, feeling really sad for Porsche. Because I’m now utterly convinced Porsche makes the best high-performance EVs, and yet customers globally have given the brand’s electric range a thumbs down. The Taycan, in particular, has been shunned, with slowing sales and tumbling resale values, which is a real shame. The best thing about the Taycan is that it feels like a Porsche first and then an EV, not the other way around, and that nuanced difference is what makes it so special. The thing with most EVs is that they’re generally one-dimensional; it’s all about brutal acceleration delivered in a very linear, characterless way. Live with the Taycan for a while, though, and it’s the finer details that eventually hook you.  Handles like a proper sports car despite its weight. The secret of the Taycan’s brilliance is all about calibration and feel. Sure, the acceleration is cheek-flattening and supercar...

The TVS Radeon is not only one of the brand’s most popular offerings in the entry-level 110cc segment, but also among the most likeable motorcycles in its class overall. We’ve spent considerable time with the bike over the years, and TVS has continued to introduce subtle yet meaningful updates to keep it relevant in an increasingly competitive market. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense commuter that still manages to feel engaging to ride, the TVS Radeon is a solid pick. Here are answers to some of the questions you might have about it. What is the price of the TVS Radeon? The TVS Radeon is priced between Rs 56,850 and Rs 78,200, depending on the variant. The range now starts with the all-black Base Edition at Rs 56,850, while the other colour options in the same variant are priced at Rs 63,350. Above that in the lineup is the Digi Cluster Edition, which, as the name suggests, gets a digital instrument console and is priced at Rs 75,950 with a drum brake, and Rs 78,200 with a front di...

With the launch of the 350cc KTM 390 Adventure, there are now four 390 Adventure models on sale in India, which can make things confusing for someone considering this bike. Here, we’ll explain in detail what each variant costs and brings to the table. All prices ex-showroom, Delhi KTM 390 Adventure variant breakdown Standard There are a great many differences between the four variants in the KTM 390 Adventure lineup but a lot of parts are common as well. For example, they all have the same main frame, subframe, bodywork and styling with just different colours and graphics. Where the base 390 Adventure differs from all the other variants is that it is the only one to use a downsized 349cc engine - via a shorter stroke - making 41.5hp and 33.5Nm of torque. It has the same 200mm/205mm (F/R) of suspension travel (non-adjustable except for rear preload), 19/17-in (F/R) alloy wheels and TFT display as well as electronics as the higher models. As a consequence of the lower 18 percent GST l...

Turbo-petrol engines have gained huge popularity even in compact cars these days, democratising performance while also being reasonably efficient for daily use. Customers even have the option of choosing from a variety of gearbox options across vehicles of varying sizes. Here, we have compiled a list of five best turbo-petrol automatic crossovers within a budget of Rs 12 lakh that you can currently buy in the market.  Citroen C3 Autocar India rating: 8/10 The Citroen C3 Turbo stands out for its potent performance from the 110hp, 1.2-litre engine and exceptional ride quality. Both MT and AT gearboxes are smooth, and it handles quite well, too. Citroen has also fixed the issue of lacking features, and its great value at its price. However, the sparse service network will be a limitation.  Nissan Magnite Autocar India rating: 8/10 The Nissan Magnite ’s 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-engine and CVT combo is one of the smoothest automatic powertrains in the compact segment. It’s also dec...

Back in 2022, we did something mildly ridiculous – we drove the all-electric Porsche Taycan from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. 4,400km. One country. Zero tailpipe emissions. It was equal parts adventure and anxiety, proving that while the Taycan could absolutely do it, India’s charging infrastructure was ‘still developing’. Four years later, the wanderlust returned. Only this time, we decided to keep things sensible. Relatively speaking, of course. No cross-country marathons – just a proper, real-world road trip that more people would attempt. Mumbai to Goa. Familiar, scenic, and just the right amount of chaotic. A quick call to Porsche set things in motion. Except things escalated quickly. “We don’t have the standard Taycan anymore,” they said. “But you can take the Porsche Taycan Turbo.” I tried to sound disappointed. I failed. Then came the knockout punch: “Would you also like the Porsche Panamera GTS?” Now that’s not a question. That’s a life decision. So the plan evolved – two cars, on...

The R model of the 390 Adventure was recently launched and sits between the X and the top-spec 390 Adventure. It gets an adjustable, longer-travel suspension (230mm at both ends), a larger 18-inch rear wheel and spoked wheels with tubed tyres. With this setup, it feels closer to the Enduro R in terms of behaviour compared to the standard Adventure models. KTM 390 Adventure R Design and Quality - 8/10 The design remains largely the same as the 390 Adventure, with the only changes being new graphics, along with the chassis and handguards finished in orange. It is available in a single colour option: Ceramic White. Build quality is solid overall, but the rally tower does produce some rattling noises when riding hard off-road or over rough potholes. 390 Adventure R Performance and Refinement - 8/10 The engine produces the same power and torque figures, but with the 18-inch rear wheel and Enduro-style sprocketing, it feels slightly stronger at lower RPMs. In our tests, it was just 0.10 sec...

Hero offers the Glamour X in two variants – Drum Brake and Disc Brake – with both versions differing in braking hardware amongst other features Irrespective of the variant, the Glamour X is powered by a 124.7cc single-cylinder engine producing 11.5hp at 8,250rpm and 10.5Nm at 6,500rpm. Drum Variant Rs 88,410 The Drum Brake variant serves as the entry point into the Glamour X range and comes equipped with a drum brake setup at both ends. The base variants don't have  features such as LED indicators, taillight and panic brake alert. In addition to that, it also misses out on cruise control - the feature that set the Glamour X apart from other commuter motorcycles.  Priced at Rs 88,410 (ex-showroom, Mumbai), it is positioned as the more accessible option in the line-up. Disc Variant Rs 95,785 The Disc Brake variant builds on the base by replacing the front drum with a disc brake, offering improved braking performance. The disc variant, being the top-end variant, gets the full-...